ANA LIDIA MAS GOMEZ, "Yiya", September 30, 1913 - April 1, 2008
I am finally able to write this without becoming an emotional wreck...I took care of my Aunt for the last 6 years of her life, and I am honored to have done so.
What can I say about a woman who had so much impact on my life? She was my soul mother, my friend, and one of the biggest supporters of my womanhood and my music, especially my piano playing and composing. She was fearless and jumped into everything head first, and I see now how she was the fire behind my father's eyes, pushing him forward to accomplish great things, guiding him into the wonderful world of imagination, laughter, and music. Two years older than my dad, they were as tight as a brother and sister could be. I am sure that if there is a heaven, she is playing the piano to my father's lush baritone, happy to be reunited with her best friend.
Ana held a Master's Degree in Econimics from Columbia University, and served as Economic Attache' to the United States in Mexico, a job which was created especially for her by the American Embassy in Mexico City. She traveled all over the world often by herself, which was relatively unheard of in her day, quite independent of her loving husband of 60 years, Ed. She even managed to care for her father until his death in the early 1980's. I have photos of her with Nixon, Ted Kennedy, and other powerful men who were her all her colleagues. Had she been born decades later, one can only imagine that she may have taken a more influential role in politics, such as Secretary of State or even President. She had all the grace, beauty, and sophistication of a Jackie Kennedy, and as if that was not enough, she was also an accomplished pianist, with an uncanny sense of rhythm.
Ana did Yoga with me on the floor of our den in Long Island around 1965, when no one had ever heard of it. She had a bell-like laugh, and she got a kick out of the fact that I was able to do the lotus position with little effort, like a "piece of rubber," she said. Around this time, I also remember her trying to bake a cheesecake, complete with the graham cracker crust. Her and my father both loved a good New York Style cheesecake, but I remember this as being an overwhelming task, complete with the hysteria of the almost forgotten grated lemon rind, and the ensuing mess that looked more like a science experiment gone wrong. I don't remember how the cheesecake turned out, but it became something of a joke-infused legend for a while, as my Aunt was not the domestic kind, and was looked upon by my parents as being somewhat spoiled because she was lucky enough to have a full time French cook at her home in Mexico.
So many memories...I could write a book about my Aunt...perhaps I should. Maybe the story of this remarkable woman is one that needs to be told...
